Echos Of A Soul

The son of Xivu Arath

The pair of hive experts made their way into a hidden chamber in the Dreaming City, near where Riven was located. Echo had discovered a new chamber that was added recently which could explain why the hive here have been gaining more and more power as of lately. Eris walked beside her, the small glowing orb in her hands. Echo had her rifle at the ready incase she needed to defend Eris. Under the warlock’s fox helmet her eyes were glowing green, just like Eris. Black ooze was also dripping from her eyes. Both could see clearly through the darkness and see things that would normally be hidden to the naked eye.

The pair could feel the energy surging from the chamber, it was powerful, they knew they had to be cautious. Eris ran her hand along the wall of the arrow tunnel the two walked through. She could feel the energy in the walls.

“Whatever is in that chamber, it is quite strong.” Eris started, “Its presence can be felt everywhere, once we find it we need to destroy it.” She turned to Echo.

Echo nodded in agreement, she knew she would have to be the one to destroy it as she was able to take in energy if she needed more strength. Echo hummed softly, she knew this would be difficult, which is why they didn’t report this to the Vanguard yet. They wanted to investigate and see if they could destroy it before having to send a team in. The two encountered a dead end and paused. The warlock holstered her rifle and looked around to see if she could find anything.

As she was looking around she noticed hive runes on the wall. They read “Scoroboth, Son of Xivu Arath” Echo paused for a moment after she read the runes. A child of Xivu Arath, but she remembers killing him along with her fireteam. She felt a pulse of energy coming from behind the wall. She raised her hand to the runes and they emitted a glow. The wall in front of her disappeared and she went into the chamber. It was clearly some type of hive temple.

“A temple? But why here? This is near…” Echo paused to ponder for a moment before she heard a familiar voice.

“Echo! Look, over there!” It was Orion, her ghost. He had floated over to a massive object in the center of the room.

It was a large crystal, along with a hive cleaver. The warlock moved closer to the objects inspecting them. Eris had also caught up with the Echo and begun examining the room as well.

“This is quite strange, a hive temple in the middle of the Dreaming City. What’s more unusual is that it is near where your team killed Riven.” Eris was intrigued by the room.

Echo could feel the energy radiating from the crystal. She gazed at the crystal and removed her helmet, revealing her eyes glowing green with black ooze dripping from them. The blade and the crystal were calling to her. Slowly she began to approach the objects. Her hand outstretched towards them, her hand almost touched the object when a voice called out to her.

"Echo?" It was Orion, "Is everything alright? You lost focus for a moment." Echo gazed at Orion, she looked confused and lost.

The ooze began dripping more frequently from her eyes. Black slowly taking over the green glow of her eyes. Orion panicked and called out to Eris.

"Eris! Something’s wrong with Echo!" Eris quickly turned her head to look at the warlock.

While Orion had called out to her, Echo had touched the crystal. A bright white light encased the warlock's body. She let out a loud scream but it seemed there was another voice mixed in with her.

“Finally, after all these years I’m free.” The voice wasn’t her. In her hand was the cleaver that rested beside the crystal. “Time for my to finish wha-”

“NO, GET OUT.” Echo screamed. She dropped the blade and her hands went up to her head.

Eris froze at the scene before her. Something had entered her body. It was clear she was fighting for control over her body.

“Stop fighting me. You will not win.” The voice called out, “I must finish what my mother sent me to do” Eris was confused, who was this. Who was taking control of Echo.

“Who are you?” Eris asked the being. A deep laugh echoed through the room.

“I am Scoroboth, Son of Xivu Arath.” His laughter grew louder. “What fools you mortals are, delving into our magic when you know little of the consequences.”

Echo cried out fighting him off. She fell to her knees, grabbing her hair in her hands.

“ERIS, TAKE ORION AND LEAVE.” She cried out, c;early struggling to keep herself in control. “I…I have a way to keep him from taking control.” She stood up and began to walk away, the green glow back in her eyes.

“I’m going to seal myself in the chamber Riven was kept in,” Echo looked at Orion. “Stay with her, don’t come with me my little light.” Orion didn’t like the idea. She began to walk away from Eris and her ghost.

“Eris, I trust you. I know you’ll find a way to-” “ENOUGH, YOU WILL NOT SEAL ME AWAY. I WILL FIGHT FOREVER.” Echo screamed once again pushing him back. Eris guided Echo the the chamber Riven was kept in.
Once the pair made it into the room Echo began creating a magic circle on the ground. It wasn’t hive magic so there was no way from Scoroboth to break free and run rampant. Echo sighed softly once the circle was created.

“Eris listen to me, I won’t be able to keep him at bay forever. He will take control.” A sad smile made its way to her face.

“Echo…I will find a way to free you. I promise.” Eris promised the warlock she’d find a way to free her. She wouldn’t report this to the Vanguard until she found a way to free her friend.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING. YOU SHALL NOT SEAL ME AWAY. I WILL BREAK FREE AND KILL YOU AND DESTROY THIS PLACE.” Echo struggled to push him back this time. She needed to seal herself away now, or she’d lose control. Echo groaned softly, she was losing the battle over her body and weakening. She turned her gaze to Eris as tears fell from her eyes.

“One more thing,” Echo stood in the center of the circle and slowly began to levitate, “Do not let anyone in this chamber.” Her hands formed a certain symbol known to witches, two fingers pointed up with one hand, and on the other hand her index and middle finger pointed down below her waist.

She closed her eyes and her legs rested like she was sitting, but one hung down. Tears mixed with the black ooze leaking from her eyes. She chanted a small incantation and sealed herself inside the circle. A large dome of magical energy surrounded her, blocking anyone from getting in. Malok, I will come home, I promise. 

As Eris left the chamber the door shut behind her, and sealed the door with hive magic. She was the only one who could unlock the door. She looked at Orion and sighed softly.

“Once I figure out how to free her, I will contact your friends so we can stop his progression of taking control of her.” Her eyes gazed up with sadness on her features. “Will you share with me some of her research? We must get to work immediately.” They went to the chamber where they cleansed Riven’s heart, and thus began their search to find a way to keep Scoroboth from making the warlock his vessel.